Welcome
to the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling Championship! This
event is the elite competition for up-and-coming Junior men and women
curlers from all four Atlantic provinces, as the provincial champions
in the 17 and under age bracket compete for the Atlantic title.

During the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling Championship on the weekend, a curling broom was donated by Team Newfoundland and Labrador to be auctioned off at the third annual Vogue Optical Children's Wish Foundation "Curl for Wishes" Charity Curling Spiel, scheduled for April 12th through April 14th, 2007 at the Charlottetown Curling Club.

The broom, which belonged to 2001 World Junior champion and 2006 Olympic Gold Medallist Brad Gushue, is signed by the 2006 Gushue gold medal team, along with the 2006 Brier champion Jean Michel Menard rink. and the Pete Fenson 2006 Olympic Bronze Medal team from the USA.

Presenting the broom to Dave Kassner, manager of the Charlottetown Curling Club, were Jeff Thomas, who coached the Gushue rink during their World Junior win, and Russ Howard, who curled on Gushue's Olympic gold medal team.

The
Kendal Thompson rink from the Lakeshore Curling Club in Halifax
defeated New Brunswick's Jon Rennie foursome by a 9-4 score Sunday
evening to win the men's section of the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and
Under curling championships at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
Thompson took a triple in the sixth end to lead 7-3, and put the
eight-end game out of reach by stealing a deuce in the seventh. Other
members of team Thompson are 3rd Adam Berry, 2nd Mitch Cahill, lead
Matt Dumaresque and coach Stephen Thompson. Playing with Rennie
were 3rd Chris Sleep, 2nd Jason Pye, and first stone Alex Kyle.
The coach of this Riverside Curling Club team is Kevin Kyle.

Thompson
earned a bye to the final by virtue of his first-place finish in the
round robin, with a 3-1 record. The Colin Thomas rink from the St.
John's Curling Club in Newfoundland had an identical record, but lost
to Thompson in their round robin encounter. New Brunswick were third at
2-2. In the closely-fought 2nd vs 3rd place semi-final game this
afternoon, Rennie edged Thomas 5-4 to advance to the championship game.

Great weekend for the Howard clanPosted Sunday, April 8, 2007 by derekm

The
Ashley Howard rink from the Beausejour Curling Club in Moncton defeated
Charlottetown's Katie Sharkey foursome by a 9-3 score this evening to
win the women's final at the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and under
Curling Championship at the Charlottetown Curling Club.

Howard
scored triples in ends two, four and seven en route to the victory.
Other members of team Howard are 3rd Jillian Babin, 2nd Melissa
Menzies, lead Alice MacKay and coach Mike Babin. Playing with Sharkey
were 3rd Alexis Wright, 2nd Christina Keen, lead Chelsey Stordy, and
Coach Pam Wright.

In
the semi-final, Howard got by Cornwall's Sarah Fullerton rink by
a 10-7 score. The PEI host team, who finished in second place in the
provincial championships this year, and first last year, led 4-2 after
three ends, when Howard took a four-ender, followed by a sixth end
triple. The PEI rink were lying three in the last end and would have
won the game had Howard missed, but she hit and stuck for the winning
point. On Sunday morning, after a two hour delay due to the stormy
weather, Howard beat Jennifer Cunningham of Newfoundland 5-2 to win a
tiebreaker for third place to advance to the semi-final.

It
was a good day for the Howard clan, as Ashley's uncle Glenn also won a
championship -- defeating Germany's Andy Kapp by an 8-3 score in
Edmonton for his third World Men's Curling Championship, but his first
as skip. Glenn won previously in 1987 and 1993 playing third for his
brother Russ, who was otherwise occupied this time, watching his
daughter's victory in Charlottetown.

When her
uncle Glenn gets set to play Germany at 2:30 this afternoon
for the Ford World Men's title in Edmonton, Moncton's Ashley
Howard will be on the ice competing in the 2 pm semi-final of the
Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under championships at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
She defeated Newfoundland's Jennifer Cunningham rink by a 5-2 score in
today's tiebreaker to resolve third place. Howard stole a single in the
first end, and a deuce in the second before Cunningham took a
deuce in the third. A single in the fourth and another in the 5th for
the Howard foursome gave them the right to advance to the 2 pm
semi-final against second place Sarah Fullerton of Cornwall PEI. The
winner of that game goes on to play Charlottetown's Katie Sharkey in
the final at 6 pm.

The
2 pm men's semi pits Newfoundland's Colin Thomas against Jon Rennie of
New Brunswick, with the winner taking on Kendal Thompson of Nova Scotia
in the 6 pm final.

Sunday play to go with delay at Sylvan Atlantic 17 and UnderPosted Sunday, April 8, 2007 by derekm

The
weather is causing delays at the Sylvan Atlantic 17 and Under Curling
Championship at the Charlottetown Curling Club, but this morning's
tiebreaker game between Ashey Howard of Moncton and Jennifer
Cunningham of Newfoundland and Labrador will go at 11 am (a two hour
delay). Ice preparation has begun and the teams are being transported
by 4 wheel drive from their hotel. The semi-final and final rounds will
be delayed on hour, and will go at 2 and 6 pm, respectively.

Sylvan Atlantic 17 and Under tiebreaker delayed until 11 amPosted Sunday, April 8, 2007 by derekmDue
to the inclement weather, organizers have delayed the 6-end
tiebreaker game between Jennifer Cunningham of Newfoundland and
Labrador, and Moncton's Ashley Howard rink until 11 am.

Other draws today at the Charlottetown Curling Club are currently scheduled for 1 pm (semi) and 5 (final), but may change due to weather conditions.

PEI Women, Nova Scotia Men advance to Sylvan Learning 17 and Under finalsPosted Saturday, April 7, 2007 by derekm

Round robin play wrapped up on Saturday at the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling Championships being played at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
In men's play, the Kendal Thompson rink from the Lakeshore Nova Scotia
Curling Club finished in first place with a 3-1 win-loss record, and
have earned a bye to the final, Sunday at 5 pm. Newfoundland and
Labrador's Colin Thomas also finished at 3-1. but was awarded second
place by virtue of his loss to Thompson in his opening game on
Friday. Thomas plays third place Jon Rennie of New Brunswick in the
semi-final Sunday at 1 pm, with the winner facing Thompson for the
title. Rennie finished at 2-2, while the two PEI teams - Sam Ramsay and
Spencer Pitre, were 1-3.

On
Saturday, Nova Scotia's Thompson downed Pitre and his PEI host team by
an 8-3 score in his only game of the day. Thomas of Newfoundland got
bye PEI's Sam Ramsay rink 4-3 in the morning, and Jon Rennie of NB 6-5
in the afternoon draw. Host club team Pitre defeated Sam Ramsay
and his PEI championship team by a 6-4 score, in a game that was
cut to seven ends due to time constraint rules.

The
women's division also featured a battle of the two PEI rinks, with PEI
champion Katie Sharkey handing host team and 2006 champion Sarah
Fullerton her first loss, by a 9-4 score, taking five points in
the sixth end, when Fullerton was unsuccessful in raising one of
her stones to the four foot with her final shot. The win gave both
teams identical 3-1 records, and handed first place and the bye to the
final to the Sharkey rink. Both rinks had won their morning games,
Fullerton 8-1 over Erin Porter of NS (who finished at 0-4), and Sharkey
6-3 over Newfoundland and Labrador's Jennifer Cunningham.

Cunningham,
and New Brunswick's Ashley Howard both finished at 2-2, and will play
in a tiebreaker Sunday morning at 9 to determine third
place. Cunningham edged Howard 5-4 in the afternoon draw.

The 3rd place finisher will play Fullerton in the 1 pm semi-final, with the winner facing Sharkey in the championship game at 5.

Impressive Opening at 17 and UnderPosted Friday, April 6, 2007 by derekmThe official
opening of the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling
Championships was truly an impressive affair, with the 10 curling teams
piped in by Jessica and Nick vanOuwerkerk, and escorted by the 60 Air
Cadet Corps of Charlottetown. Master of Ceremonies Robbie Doherty
introduced a number of dignitaries, including John Morrison from PEI
Sports and Recreation, PEI Curling Association President Chick
Morrison, Charlottetown Curling Club president Gale
MacDonald, event organizer and PEICA Junior Coordinator Dave Murphy,
and Alan Shipman from title sponsor Silvan Learning of Charlottetown.
All offered greetings to the teams and wished them luck during the
competition.

Colour Guard and teams

The
event was capped off with special guests the Brett Gallant rink, who
are last year's Atlantic 17 and Under Men's champions, and also bronze
medallists at the 2007 Canada Games, and silver medallists at this
year's Canadian Juniors. The Gallant foursome threw out the
ceremonial first rock, and swept it to the button.

Gallant rink put ceremonial 1st rock on the button

NB, NS lead Men, PEI Host Team and NB lead women's after day one at Sylvan Atlantic 17 and UnderPosted Friday, April 6, 2007 by derekmAfter the first day of play at the Sylvan Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling Championship being played at the Charlottetown Curling Club,
there are no undefeated teams on the men's side, and only one unbeaten
rink remaining in the women's division. In men's play, Nova Scotia's
Kendal Thompson, and New Brunswick's Jon Rennie are both 2-1, while Sam
Ramsay from PEI, and Colin Thomas from Newfoundland and Labrador are
1-1. The PEI host team, Spencer Pitre, are 0-2. In the morning draw,
Rennie doubled Pitre 4-2, while Ramsay downed Thompson 6-1.

In
the afternoon draw, PEI's Ramsay stole a deuce in the first end, but
New Brunswick took the next two ends and then stole a deuce to take the
lead as they went on to win 6-4.Newfoundland and Labrador's Colin
Thomas were not at their best in their opener, losing 8-1 to Nova
Scotia, after giving up four in the first end, when their attempted hit
and roll behind cover failed to bury, and Thompson removed it for four.
The Newfoundland foursome had the same 8-1 score in their next game,
but on the winning side over PEI's Spencer Pitre. In a close battle,
Nova Scotia got by New Brunswick by a 6-5 score.

On
the women's side, the PEI host team, Canada Games rep Sarah Fullerton,
are the only undefeated rink at 2-0, after defeating Ashley Howard of
NB 8-7 in their opener, and Jennifer Cunningham of Newfoundland
Labrador 5-3. Howard, New Brunswick's Canada Games rep, also has two
wins, after scoring five points in the last end to beat PEI's Katie
Sharkey 9-5, and trouncing Erin Porter of NS by an 8-1 score. Sharkey
and Cunningham are both 1-1 after winning their openers 6-1
and 8-1 respectively over Porter (0-3).

Round
robin play wraps up on Saturday, with draws at 9:30 am and 3 pm. The
playoff round goes Sunday, with the finals at 5 pm (or 7:30 if two
tiebreakers needed).

Special Guests

PEI's
Brett Gallant rink, 2007 Canadian Juniors silver medallists and Canada
Winter Games bronze medallists, will be special guests at the Sylvan
Learning Atlantic 17 and Under Curling Championship, and will throw the
first rock at the opening ceremonies, Friday April 6th at 6 pm at the
Charlottetown Curling Club.

Colour Guard

The 60 Air Cadet Corps of Charlottetown will be providing the colour guard for the Sylvan Atlantic 17 and Under Championship.

The bands have been announced for the Post-Banquet Fling, 8-11 pm on April 7th at the Charlottetown Curling Club. Producer:
Justin Somers Fox Sound Productions. Note: open to juniors 12 and up.
Curlers may bring an invited guest (if guest goes to the banquet, they
will have to buy a ticket for that). Free admission to dance, but there
will be a coin collection for the bands. Here is the lineup:

David
Murphy of the PEICA (left) and Alan Shipman, Director Sylvan Learning
Centre in Charlottetown seal four year sponsorship agreement for age 17
and under curling

The
PEI Curling Association is pleased to welcome Sylvan Learning Centre,
Charlottetown, as title sponsor for the 2007 Sylvan Learning Atlantic
17 & Under Curling Championship to be held at the Charlottetown
Curling Club April 6th – 9th.

Alan
Shipman, Director of the Sylvan Learning Centre in Charlottetown,
commented that not only are they pleased to be sponsoring the Atlantic
championship this year and again in 2011, but they have also made a
four year commitment to sponsor the Sylvan Learning Provincial 17 &
Under Championship here on the Island.

Shipman
said "Young curlers, and students at Sylvan have fun, learn discipline,
new skills and strategies for improvement, as well as growing in
confidence that will take them forward in curling, school and their
lives ahead. We look forward to the Championship in April and to
continuing support of the young curlers of PEI."

David
Murphy, PEI Curling Association Junior Coordinator, said that this
sponsorship was a meld of common goals, vision and development aims.
"We are very pleased to be associated with Alan and the Sylvan Learning
Centre here in Charlottetown, as well as the over 1200 Sylvan Learning
Centres in the US and Canada."

The
Atlantic 17 and Under championship features the top junior curlers in
the four Atlantic provinces in the 17 and under age category, including
several of the same teams who recently competed at the Canada Winter
Games in Whitehorse.